2.3 Infection Control Practices and the Chain of Transmission

Flashcards

Q: What percentage of deaths were caused by infectious/parasitic diseases before 1932?
A: ~10%.

Q: How much has mortality from infectious diseases declined from 1907–2020?
A: 98% (age-standardised).

Q: What factors led to decline in infectious disease deaths?
A: Improved sanitation, clean water, housing, hygiene practices, immunisations, antibiotics.

Q: Why is infection control important for healthcare workers?
A: Protects self & family, protects patients, prevents transmission.

Q: What percentage of healthcare workers are MRSA carriers at any time?
A: ~4.6%.

Q: Approximate number of healthcare-associated infections per year in Australian hospitals?
A: ~165,000.

Q: What is the main principle of infection control?
A: Breaking the chain of infection.

Q: Examples of preventing microbial growth in healthcare?
A: Cleaning equipment, sterilisation, removing reservoirs, reducing nutrient sources.

Q: How do we protect portals of entry/exit?
A: Hand hygiene, PPE, cough etiquette, wound care.

Q: How can host defences be increased?
A: Good nutrition, adequate rest, immunisations.

Q: What is the standard precaution assumption in infection control?
A: Treat all patients and body fluids as infectious and all patients as vulnerable.

Q: Why is prevention better than treatment in infection control?
A: Limited treatments exist, antibiotic resistance is rising, prevention is more effective.

Q: Are all microbes harmful?
A: No—normal flora protect against pathogenic microbes.